The Thunder announced that Kendrick Perkins has signed a multi-year extension. Terms were not disclosed, though those will come out soon enough.

“We had a unique opportunity to enter into discussions with Kendrick to solidify his future with our organization,” said Sam Presti in a press release. “We are pleased to know that he will be a part of our core group now and in the future. Kendrick’s blue-collar, team-first approach aligns with the vision we hold for building a sustainable team in the Oklahoma City community.”

Perkins (6-10, 280) owns career averages of 6.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 1.0 assist and 22.3 minutes in 454 NBA games. He has appeared in 12 games (7 starts) this season with the Celtics before being traded to the Thunder on February 24th, averaging 7.3 points and 8.1 rebounds in 26.1 minutes. The center has appeared in 68 career postseason games, averaging 6.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 25.7 minutes.

Perkins, originally selected in the 2003 NBA draft (27th overall) by the Memphis Grizzlies and then traded to Boston on draft night, was a Parade and McDonald’s All-America at Ozen High School in Beaumont, TX. He helped lead Ozen to a 96-3 record during his final three seasons, averaging 27.5 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.8 blocks as a senior.

When Oklahoma City signed Nick Collison to that weird, completely front-loaded extension before the season that included a $6.5 million signing bonus (that counted against the cap), the Thunder put themselves right at the cap line. OKC was only below by almost cents. But after the two deadline trades, the Thunder quietly opened up a little over $2 million in cap space.

Perkins already had turned down a four-year, $22 million from the Celtics, feeling it was too low. Boston couldn’t offer more though because that was the maximum amount they could offer Perkins under the current CBA rules. The only reason Boston could offer Perkins a deal in the first place was because they had Bird Rights on him.

But because the Thunder wiggled themselves under the cap at the deadline by just a measly $2 million, OKC could offer more than the Celtics. There are two stipulations in which you can renegotiate an extension: If it’s more money than the player’s currently making, and if the team has cap room.

Again, remember that creative move Presti pulled with Collison’s contract that put him making over $13 million this year? They had the opportunity to pull something similar with Perkins. With the new cap space, OKC could renegotiate Perkins’ $4.6 million salary to as a much as $6.7 million. Following that, the Thunder could offer a new four-year extension worth about $34 million. (Or less, I suppose, but I find that unlikely.) That’s about $9 million per year, compared to the $6 million per Boston could offer.

And guess what? The deadline to make such a deal was today. So basically once Perkins’ feet hit the red dirt of Oklahoma, Presti was working on an extension with him. The $35 million is probably more than Perkins’ was going to find in the open market this summer, especially with the uncertainty of the new CBA. But that’s not a massive price tag for the Thunder to pay to their starting center for the next five years. It’s probably exactly what OKC was willing to shell out. Less than what Jeff Green likely wanted and it fits a player the Thunder needs.

Another victory for Presti as he wiggled his way around the system to give Perkins a deal he couldn’t refuse. Obviously Perkins wants to be here and obviously he’s healthy. There are some mild concerns about the health of his knees, but the ever-cautious Presti wouldn’t have done this if he didn’t believe Perkins was going to be good for the next four or five seasons.

Now Oklahoma City has that long-term defensive big man in the middle, didn’t break the bank to get him and will have enough money to work on Russell Westbrook over the summer. Score another one for the Thunder.

@james hardens beardCushing is one of the biggest natural gas/oil pipeline hubs in the world! Yeah i think it would be pretty awesome to go into MSG or Staples Center and sport some alternate jerseys with "THE CITY" across the front. It would be a fun PR thing to see what the newspapers in the area, announcers, etc would say about it... lol.

DavyTheWise :I grew up in OKC, and had family in Watonga. When they need to go to walmart, they go to “The City”. Maybe a little brash for a national audience, but who cares what they think anyways? what if we just stick with THE CITY as our official nickname… lol. I know its ridiculous, but its the most common name ive heard the non city folk oklahomans call OKC.

i grew up outside of stillwater in a small town called cushing. i moved to tulsa right after graduating, then phoenix last year. many people in that town also called OKC "The City". i know it's sorta a "small town" thing to say, but it actually seems like thats the sort of persona this team is starting to take. that whole blue collar, market quality > market size type of thing. i think it would only work as an alternate, but still think it would be pretty rad. for the record, i've never heard of O-City either in the 18 years i was in OK. I think it would confuse people, although so would The City, but i think the arrogance of the latter is sorta humorous...

The "Oak City" thing is just a verbal reference to the "OK" in Oklahoma. What they're basically saying is "OK City," but when you say it outloud it comes out as "Oak." Every time I hear it, I'm looking around for a barf bag. It's Oklahoma City or OKC. Not Oak City. I mean, geez. And I've never heard the "O-City" thing before either. Can't say that I care for it.

I think "OKC" on a jersey would look pretty slick if done right. Plus, some of the national announcers do use the "OKC" reference, so it's gotten some air time. I think more people would connect it with Oklahoma City on a jersey now than when the team first got here a couple of years ago. Back then an OKC jersey would have gotten some confused Scooby-Doo looks. But I think it would work now on an alternate jersey.

Another name that nerve-grates me is when announcers refer to Oklahoma State as "Okie State." I'm a life-long Sooner fan and have no problem with "Okie," but for some reason that reference to OSU just hits me wrong. I mean come on folks, it's not "Okie State." Hopefully no announcers ever call an OU football game and say something like, "Alright, Okie U breaks the huddle..." Barf bag time again.

Was there something here about Kendrick Perkins and a contract extension?

Grolgar :@DJ R7I live in OKC and have lived in Oklahoma my entire life. I get on Daily Thunder, read local newspapers, and listen to local radio. I’ve NEVER heard one person call OKC “O-City.” What on earth are you talking about?Having said that, “OKC” could work for an alternative jersey, but it would have to be creative. The Hawks have an “ATL” jersey that looks fine IMHO.

Woke up to the news of the Perkins trade last week. Now I've woken up to the news of this great extension. Let me tell you, there's nothing better than waking up in the morning to great news. Starts my whole day off with a smile.

What an historic day this is for the franchise. Like Justin said, this is the best center we've had probably since the days of Sam Perkins.

I've waited my entire adult life for the Sonics/Thunder to acquire a good center. Now we have one for a great price!

We just have to hope Westbrook/Harden/Ibaka sign extensions too. If we keep this team together, our championship window will be open for the foreseeable future.

I grew up in OKC, and had family in Watonga. When they need to go to walmart, they go to "The City". Maybe a little brash for a national audience, but who cares what they think anyways? what if we just stick with THE CITY as our official nickname... lol. I know its ridiculous, but its the most common name ive heard the non city folk oklahomans call OKC.

I love the Presti glasses mockup. And I hope Perk knows until he has a DT/TreeNLeaf shirt he hasn't yet been welcomed. Of course, 8 mil a year is a good welcome too.

It drives me insane to hear "Oak/OK-City" by announcers. Like they are trying to sound provincial, since apparently everyone in OKC (+1 million in the metro) is from a small town. I was born and have lived 29 years here, but never heard "O-City" though it doesn't bother me all that much.

I like having "Oklahoma City" on the jerseys, it just feels bolder, as in, "we might be small and misunderstood, but we will soon be the Lakers-killer of the NBA, so pay respect."

I wore my jersey on Sunday in LA, and went to get coffee right after we lost, and the barista asked me who won, was impressed with our trade, and seemed very respectful of OKC. It was good to see.

I live in OKC and have lived in Oklahoma my entire life. I get on Daily Thunder, read local newspapers, and listen to local radio. I've NEVER heard one person call OKC "O-City." What on earth are you talking about?

Having said that, "OKC" could work for an alternative jersey, but it would have to be creative. The Hawks have an "ATL" jersey that looks fine IMHO.

MartzMimic :@DJ R7I’ve always advocated a storm gray with orange side panels, then use the other colors in the trim with OKC. It’s kind of a reverse of the Suns’ alternate unis.If you play NBA2K11, when it goes into the player of the game replays, you’ll remember that it grays out some colors and emphasizes others. Not a bad look there either.

That would be pretty cool, definetly the altenate jerseys should have Orange stand out a bit more since its techniclly the "3rd color" of the team. I liked the Orange idea that video had too. I pray to god we never do pink(unless its v-day), yellow, or Green.

i would see the point of someone thinking OKC wouldn't work on a jersey, but i think someone out there is creative enough to pull it off...(just don't hire the designer of the first ones). i personally would love to see some more dark blue incorporated, like maybe dark blue aways...

@DJ R7I have lived in OKC for almost 30 years. It just sounds like I am little older than you since I don't use any of the media outlets you mentioned. "OKC" is almost historic. O-city could be Orlando for that matter. No offense, just opinions. Each to their own. :)

PNT :I know this is a strange question but could we be a team that is too deep??? We have a ton of players that deserve/need playing time for one reason or another and not enough minutes to go around.PG- Russ, Maynor, NateSG- Thabo, Harden, CookSF- KDPF- Serge, CollisonC- Perk, Nazr, AldrichThat’s 12 guys. Brooks has shown that he can go to a 10 man rotation since Cook has been playing regularly in recent games. I would guess that Nate and Cole are the odd men out right now. Cole may crack the rotation next season even if we are able to (or want to) resign Nazr to a cheap deal but I don’t see Nate ever in the rotation, barring injury to Russ or Maynor.

PNT :I know this is a strange question but could we be a team that is too deep??? We have a ton of players that deserve/need playing time for one reason or another and not enough minutes to go around.PG- Russ, Maynor, NateSG- Thabo, Harden, CookSF- KDPF- Serge, CollisonC- Perk, Nazr, AldrichThat’s 12 guys. Brooks has shown that he can go to a 10 man rotation since Cook has been playing regularly in recent games. I would guess that Nate and Cole are the odd men out right now. Cole may crack the rotation next season even if we are able to (or want to) resign Nazr to a cheap deal but I don’t see Nate ever in the rotation, barring injury to Russ or Maynor.

That's 12 guys. Brooks has shown that he can go to a 10 man rotation since Cook has been playing regularly in recent games. I would guess that Nate and Cole are the odd men out right now. Cole may crack the rotation next season even if we are able to (or want to) resign Nazr to a cheap deal but I don't see Nate ever in the rotation, barring injury to Russ or Maynor.

PNT :@DJ R7Do you live in Oklahoma City? I would guess not since everyone who is a resident knows that “OKC” is the only acceptable choice. I hate it when some talking head on ESPN calls it “Oak City”.

um i've lived in okc for 19 years. Maybe if you went to the SW, or SE side of okc. Or NE in the rough neighborhoods you would know that alot of people call us O-City. Radio broadcasters such as Wild 104.7, 102.4, and others refer to OKC, as "O-City" at times. Even the spanish radio, podcast about sports, and channels such as "Univision", and "Telemundo" refer to OKC as "O-City" at times. Just they say it wierd since it has a spanish tone.

Oak City is a dumb nickname because OKC no way in hell has any connection with the word "Oak", maybe "OKlahoma" but still thats stupid.

O-City would look alot better on a jersey than just "OKC".

So no, before you guess that im not from OKC, im a 405 original. I was a little kid during the bombing, and grew up around the neighboorhoods of SW 23 n May, Nw 14 Mckinley, and by 8th N Meridian.

Brewer sucks. He's had one good shooting year in his 4 year career, and even when it was happening people thought it was a fluke. He shooting under 30% from three this year off the bench. Give him the same minuscule minutes he'd have behind KD and I'm pretty sure his numbers don't get better.

guys i was wondering what our alternate jerseys next year would look like.

I remember watching a video on here about jersey ideas, and the Black with Orange letters and trend, and the Gray with Orange letters and trend were crazy cool.

I notice no one else has that coloring. Black & Orange, or Grey & Orange. Maybe we could make another Thunder White Jersey but instead of Thunder it says "O-City", you know how Portland has Rip City. Since the major media refers to us as "O-City" why not.

I'll bet Presti is a chessmaster in his free time. He is always thinking several moves ahead. He made the deal with Charlotte more for the cap space so he could extend Perk. Nazr is a nice benefit, though.

Excellent. I liked Presti's no-BS attitude. Instead of messing around with this during the summer and possibly having other teams offer more, he just wrapped it up less than a few days after acquiring him.

Now, can we afford to get in on the Corey Brewer sweepstakes? He might want some money but he could be THE MAN to backup KD.

@J5One would assume. Hopefully it won't cost us any actual games, though. I'd like to see RW play on his contract, not have him sit at home (or go to Europe) while he's locked out with the rest of the team.

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